Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

VERIFY: Data breach affects personal information of 300,000+ Medicare recipients


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPLwxMzS8Ww

For more information on what you can do if you're affected by a data breach, visit:

https://10TampaBay.com/VERIFY

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

First-in-the-nation drone program comes to Tampa General/Manatee County

AA-approved drone technology will speed up response times for 9-1-1 callers in Manatee County’s coverage area.

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fi...42fdd0ef&ei=23

Tampa General Hospital (TGH), in partnership with Manatee County and Archer First Response Systems (ArcherFRS), has announced a groundbreaking program that uses drone technology to deliver life-saving emergency equipment to 9-1-1 callers. The program, set to launch on May 1, aims to improve response times for health-related emergencies in the Manatee County coverage area.

TGH’s president and CEO, John Couris, emphasized the transformative potential of this initiative. “Through the use of technology and innovation, Tampa General Hospital is transforming health care,” said Couris. “This first-in-the-nation program can effectively save lives by responding to health-related emergencies faster than ever before.”

The program will deploy drones carrying automated external defibrillators (AEDs), NARCAN Nasal Spray, and tourniquets, providing quick access to life-saving equipment for emergency situations. The goal is to enhance survival rates for cardiac arrests, opioid overdoses, and trauma-related injuries.

The program will initially serve a 3.5-square-mile area from the Manatee County EMS Lakewood Ranch Station, with plans to expand coverage to 35 square miles with additional approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The drones are equipped with safety features such as ASTM-certified Parachute Recovery systems, on-board computers, and LTE cell modems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEiMpjXoMN4

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Sarasota County cuts all funds to United Way, including employee payroll deduction

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sa...on/ar-AA1nwKmX

The Sarasota County Commission voted unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting to cut ties with United Way due to its 211 helpline listing Planned Parenthood as a resource.

The first resolution removed a payroll deduction program for county employees which had allowed participants to have their money go directly to United Way or to other charities and nonprofits in the area, which United Way would facilitate.

The program’s termination affects not only United Way Suncoast – which operates in five counties, including Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto – but also the United Way of South Sarasota.

Chris Johnson, United Way of South Sarasota’s vice president of community impact, said that stopping the payroll deduction program will affect not just the United Way organizations but also the groups they facilitate donations to.

"All these other agencies with funds from the county employees will also feel that hit. They will have to absorb that somehow within their budget and operation,” Johnson said. “If they’re offering services, they will have to decide: ‘Do we have to cut services? Do we have to lessen what we do? Are we going to have to cut an employee?’”

Although commissioners framed their opposition to the payroll deduction program as a separate issue from the links to abortion providers, Johnson said commissioners never raised an issue with it until they began to make noise about public funds used to support the 211 helpline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91_hu3gfWaQ

[wondermint2]

Move forward or out? Many on Fort Myers Beach making tough choices amid Hurricane Ian recovery


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lj9A9MGa08

While waiting to see how much the fight to preserve most of Lee County's 25% flood insurance discount will turn out, WINK News discovered that nowhere is the proximity of moving forward and moving out so intertwined as Fort Myers Beach.

[wondermint2]

Asbestos delaying Punta Gorda hotel demolition


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhnPlCunag4

It's an eyesore and a health hazard. Asbestos was found in the Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel and Suites and the Hurricane Charley's Raw Bar and Grill next door.

[wondermint2]

Top residential real estate sales for April 8-12 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...tate-sarasota/

A home on Casey Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Frank and Martha Forward sold their home at 2006 Casey Key Road to Jeffrey King, of Monaco, for $5.6 million. Built in 2008, it has five bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,810 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.8 million in 2006.

[Sunshine Rules]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Top residential real estate sales for April 8-12 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...tate-sarasota/

A home on Casey Key tops all transactions in this week’s real estate. Frank and Martha Forward sold their home at 2006 Casey Key Road to Jeffrey King, of Monaco, for $5.6 million. Built in 2008, it has five bedrooms, six-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,810 square feet of living area. It sold for $2.8 million in 2006.

Unfortunately that one sale does not reflect what's going on in the broader real estate market in our area. The info below comes from an April press release from our local Board of Realtors:

SARASOTA, Fla. (April 18, 2024) – The real estate markets in Sarasota and Manatee counties have
undergone significant changes throughout the first quarter of 2024, reflecting broader economic
influences and evolving buyer and seller behaviors. This press release provides an overview of these
changes, based on the latest data released by Florida Realtors®, and offers insights into the implications
for the remainder of the year.

Key Trends in Q1:

• Increased Inventory Levels: Inventory grew 64.6 percent for single-family homes and 90.9
percent for townhomes and condos across both Sarasota and Manatee Counties since Q1 2023,
significantly shifting market dynamics.

• Extended Time on Market: Median time to contract for single-family homes and condos
increased to an average of 43 days in Sarasota County and 51 days in Manatee County in Q1 of
2024, indicating that properties are taking longer to reach the closing phase.
• Price Adjustments: Median sales price decreased year-over-year in March 2024. Single-family
homes decreased 0.6 percent and townhouses and condos decreased 6.1 percent combined across
Sarasota and Manatee counties.

• High Cash Sales: In Q1, cash sales increased by a total of 5.9 percent across Sarasota and
Manatee counties for single-family homes and condo transactions. This trend highlights a
significant portion of buyers and investors, who prefer or can bypass traditional financing routes.
The data suggests that both Sarasota and Manatee counties are transitioning towards market conditions
that favor buyers, with more negotiating power due to increased supply. However, the high rate of cash
sales continues to impact the dynamics, potentially sidelining first-time homebuyers and those reliant on
financing.

and

March 2024 Statistics

Inventory, also referred to as active listings, has more than doubled in both counties when compared to
March of 2023. In Sarasota County, inventory increased year-over-year by 76.6 percent to 3,374 for
single family homes and 100.3 percent to 2,153 for condos. In Manatee County, inventory increased by
51.3 percent to 2,581 for single family homes and 78.9 percent to 1,519 for condos.

In March, the months supply of inventory (MSI) for single-family homes increased to 5.3 months in
Sarasota County and 4.1 months in Manatee County. For townhomes and condos, the MSI increased to
6.8 months in Sarasota County and to 6.4 months in Manatee County. Florida Realtors® states that the
benchmark for a balanced market (favoring neither buyer nor seller) is 5.5 months of inventory.

The median time to contract in Sarasota County is at 40 days for single-family homes and 51 days for
condos, a year-over-year increase of 60 percent and 183.3 percent respectively. In Manatee County,
median time to contract increased by 10.9 percent to 51 days for single-family homes and by 134.8
percent to 54 days for townhomes and condos.

The median sales price for single-family homes in Sarasota County decreased year-over-year by 2.5
percent to $515,000 and decreased by 8.9 percent to $385,775 for townhomes and condos. Manatee
County condo prices decreased by 2.8 percent to $342,988, while single-family home prices increased by
1.4 percent to $498,805.

In March 2024, cash sales remained high. Sarasota County reported 44.5 percent of single-family home
sales and 70.3 percent of townhome and condo sales were paid for in cash. Manatee County had 33.4
percent of single-family homes and 51.8 percent of townhome and condo sales paid for in cash.
There were 1,453 closed sales for single-family homes in Sarasota and Manatee, an 8.2 percent decrease
from the same time last year. Closed sales for condos decreased by less than one percent to 686 sales.

As the market begins to shift to more competitive levels, these current trends provide opportunities for
buyers but require sellers to be more strategic in their approach.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Rules

Unfortunately that one sale does not reflect what's going on in the broader real estate market in our area. The info below comes from an April press release from our local Board of Realtors:

Hi I posted the full March real estate data for Sarasota-Manatee on a previous post I made on April 19th in the news thread here:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/66656757-post3566.html

I just post the largest individual sales for various local areas because some people are interested in it. That informantion is just intended to supplement the full data and it isn't intended to be a comprehensive snapshot of the market.

On yesterday I also made a local real estate post with some more comprehensive information here:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/66672133-post3767.html

But thank you for your post - I think perhaps yours contains some additional information such as cash sales that I didn't mention in mine.

[wondermint2]

North Port to ask voters to allow city to borrow funds without a referendum every time

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/mark...3c24d1a0&ei=21

City commissioners will ask North Port voters to approve a referendum that would let them borrow money − within limits − without seeking public permission every time.

Because the City Commission has already approved spending $4 million of reserves to finish designing a new police station, the decision to pursue this new referendum wouldn't sidetrack the project. But it would give city leaders an option to find ways to pay for the facility and – in the words of Sean Burroughs, incoming president of the North Port Area Chamber of Commerce, “Budget and plan, not plan (and) then budget.”

It would also put North Port on the same financial footing as the other 67 counties and 411 municipalities in the state of Florida, they noted.

The change in tack occurred during an April 23 special meeting that had been scheduled to discuss finance options for the planned $122.7 million police station.

“We all agree we need a new police headquarters; that is not a question. But the fact is we can’t identify sources of funds for even the (scaled down) $100 million model, so that’s an issue,” Commissioner Barbara Langdon said.

“I think we would all agree that totally independent of the police headquarters conversation, this city needs to be able to borrow money, so we need to be able to move forward with a referendum to accomplish that,” she later added.

[wondermint2]

Restaurant review: Is Sarasota's new waterfront Mexican food spot worth the wait?

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tri...3c24d1a0&ei=30

"As we approach Cinco de Mayo, I can't help but think of all the glorious, tequila- and taco-fueled celebrations that will be taking place at my favorite Mexican restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

In fact, every April, I like to visit as many local Mexican restaurants as possible ahead of the holiday, at least until my inability to say "no" to chips and salsa refills becomes problematic, and I begin to feel as if I might pop at any moment.

One of my favorite new restaurants of 2023 happened to be the Mexican spot Rocco’s Tacos, which opened at University Town Center and impressed me again during a late April dinner visit. This year, one of the most buzzed-about new restaurant openings has been Agave Bandido, which is located in Lakewood Ranch's upscale Sarasota County neighborhood Waterside Place.

Agave Bandido, which originated with a Pembroke Pines location and is part of the South Florida-based Wolverine Management, opened its Lakewood Ranch spot in March, and I visited twice in mid-April. Both times I left asking myself the same question: "Was that worth the wait?""